ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Programming languages

Programming languages are like special words and letters that computers understand. They let you tell a computer what to do. The words and letters are written out in a specific pattern, kind of like a secret code, and together they make up instructions for a computer. For example, you might tell the computer to open a program, or add numbers together, or show a picture. Computers can only perform tasks if they're given instructions in a language they understand.